Ex-wife on bail pending murder trial

Mississauga woman will be tried for third time in 2013 killing of former husband after hung jury

- JASON MILLER AND AMY DEMPSEY RAVEN

After two murder trials, a woman has been granted bail as she awaits a third trial for the murder of her ex-husband.

After more than a decade in custody, Melissa Merritt was released from jail Tuesday on a string of strict conditions, including house arrest and being subject to GPS monitoring, in a ruling from Superior Court Justice Jennifer Woollcombe, who said that Merritt had "met her onus for release."

She was ordered to be under house arrest at her parents' Guelph home after her mother and Merritt's cousin were secured as sureties and pledged a combined $285,000 to ensure her release. Merritt must always be with her sureties and cannot leave the home unless it is for pre-approved medical or legal appointments. She must also refrain from using the internet and cannot visit any address where the family of the victims are known to reside.

"I trust you will comply with these terms," Woollcombe said to Merritt, who nodded in approval from the prisoner's box.

She will remain in custody until a GPS monitoring device is available for installation, Woollcombe said. The Crown told the Star that they will be proceeding with prosecution, which will see a third trial being called. It's anticipated that the trial will go ahead in early 2025, Woollcombe said.

A publication ban restricts the media from publishing Woollcombe's detailed reasons for approving Merritt's release.

The ruling comes two weeks after Crown and defence counsel made submissions for and against Merritt's continued detention.